New book coming out on April 20th titled, "The Exoneration of Emma, Joseph & Hyrum," written by Ronald Meldon Karren. His description on his homepage reads thus:

"This 680-page compilation contains hundreds of pro-LDS (Mormon) artifacts that show how the Mormon founder Joseph Smith was murdered by fellow Mormons. He and his wife, Emma, were framed with the practice of Spiritual Wifery (including polygamy) and of secret-oath temple doctrines. The artifacts herein clearly show the Smiths never espoused these doctrines and openly fought them until their deaths."

Isn't it very well undisputed that Joseph was steeped in polygamy, and took multiple wives to an attempt cover up his errant womanizing? Claiming it was in the name of God that is what he used to justify engaging in said practice.

I don't buy into this theory, and have a hard time believing how some supposed artifacts will dispute the facts of his philandering that are very well documented.

The author's synopsis is as follows:

"Exonerating Emma Smith is long-overdue. It impacts all Mormon factions of Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo-based church. These include the LDS, RLDS, FLDS, Strangites, Rigdonites, Church of Christ, Snuffer movement, etc. Using pro-LDS artifacts to debunk LDS claims against Emma, members and former members of these factions can now assess their “history” more accurately, and perhaps find healing through this more reasonable, artifact-based approach to Mormon history. Compiled by a seventh-generation LDS member with former familial ties to the top patriarchy, this work evolved from one poignant question: As God’s elite and chosen people, having the one and only true church led by Christ, why are LDS communities plagued with abnormally high dysfunctional statistics? These consist of child physical and sexual abuse, spousal and female abuse, along with Utah’s three pronounced epidemics: pornography, prescription drug abuse, and teen suicide. For forty years, the author has struggled with the church’s evolving doctrines, spawned by its ever-changing history. Yet, in 2017, the church announced a third comprehensive rewrite of its “official” history, proclaiming it will be “transparent, honest, and forthright.” Only through these elements can Emma find exoneration, which would inextricably exonerate Joseph of polygamy, polyandry, pedophilia, Freemasonry, and more."

While it's widely understood that Emma was adamantly opposed to the practice of polygamy, her husband wasn't and engaged in that behavior behind her back. There is no way he can be exonerated from his bad acts although I don't count Freemasonry as one of them.

https://theexonerationofemmajosephandhyrum.com/

Okay, I finally made some sense of this! The author is an exmo, but he left the 'new church' created by BY & Heber, wherein they despoiled the reputation of Emma, Joseph & Hyrum...

I can't tell if he believes Joseph was a prophet and met the father and the son, but I'm not bothered by this...

Here's why I think as I do... Below is a post he made on his FB account. You can confirm this yourself, if you're no FB...



"Taking a break from my hiatus away from these scum-sucking LDS schmucks to report on these scum-sucking LDS SCHMUCKS.

"I find it incomprehensible how LDS people can continue to participate in this debauchery, let alone continue to finance it and sustain it.

"To my LDS family: Shame be yours, LDS scum."


680 pages, containing 'artifacts' that prove things? And it's probably labeled as non-fiction!

I've heard of mopologists before. But he is certainly been ardently espousing anti-Mormon debauchery up to now based on past experience following his blogs.

So it's a bit surprising he's trying to now exonerate Joseph, Hyrum, and Emma all in the same breath.

The only thing I could muster as to why possibly, is that he may have a wider reaching audience among mopologists than he does ex-Mormons. They'll slurp up anything that defies the evidence of Joseph's bigamy, polygamy, and philandering.

From a purely business standpoint, it is brilliant. But from an objective historical one, dubious at best. (Note: I'll have to read the book for myself before basing my conclusions on what I suspect is true.) Nonetheless, I really don't buy into the idea that Joseph was pure in his motives, or that he was framed by other Mormons to be some sort of "fall guy" for TSCC. I just refuse to believe that. He was fully culpable for what he did, when he did it, how he deceived many including his own wife.

If anyone deserves to be exonerated it is Emma. But not him.

Emma was a thief and a murderer.

She and Joseph stole a horse and wagon the night Joseph claimed to finally receive the plates. Emma was with him and would have known the truth.

Many years later she pushed a Pregnant Eliza Snow down a flight of stairs causing the death of the baby.

I would want to know her mens rea when Emma pushed Eliza down the stairs. She was angry and acted harsh when she did that, but if she didn't know Eliza was expecting when she caused her to miscarry, I'm not sure she intended for that to happen.

Eliza was forcefully evicted from their home.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2018 07:29AM by Amyjo.

She knew full well Eliza was pregnant and that Eliza was one of Joseph's wives.

At the time Eliza was a governess to the Smith children, living under their roof.

How far pregnant was Eliza? By accounts, the term of her pregnancy is not known. It is possible Eliza may have suspected her husband's infidelity, but he kept it under wraps around his wife according to historians.

When she watched him kissing Eliza at the top of the stairs is what drove Emma over the edge. Acting in a fit of passion she threw Eliza down the stairs. There are conflicting reports that that ever happened. But that is the general consensus.

Eliza was beaten with a broom. Yes it was a cruel thing of Emma to do. She was being vindictive and acting out as a jealous wife.

Her husband on the other hand, was a scoundrel. That she married him was her faux paus. Eliza was part of a lovers triangle and was put out of the household by the wife. That in itself is relatable if you have any empathy for Emma.

I don't know that anyone can say that Emma knew Eliza was pregnant or not. Do you have sources for this?

Joseph kept his taking additional wives a secret from Emma, as much as he could because she did not ever approve of it. She may have been in denial, and an enabler. But it was Joseph who perpetuated the lies and deceit to entangle and enslave whomever he set his targets on.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2018 12:35PM by Amyjo.

Ok. Lets back off the murder charge and go with attempted murder of Eliza and involuntary manslaughter for the poor innocent child. Either way the Baby died at her hand.

Sorry but Emma was not innocent. She was not a saint. She was a full participant from the night the plates were "aquired" through the translation/writing "She was a scribe" to benefiting from Joseph's position.

She was a full participant in the church from the beginning.

I don't follow your reasoning that she attempted to murder Eliza.

She threw her out of their house with the back end of a broom.

If she'd wanted to kill her she would've used a rifle, knife, or sledgehammer. She didn't. She did make her wishes known that Eliza was not to interfere in her marriage again. Too bad that Emma didn't take out her angst on her louse of a husband.

She went along to get along with her husband. But she never condoned or accepted polygamy. Which is one reason why JS went to extremes to keep it from her, and his followers because they wouldn't either. Many of those early saints left & turned against him when they got wind of what he was up to. Only his inner circle got a glimpse into his inner workings because he was so secretive.

I don't believe Emma was a saint. But she isn't anywhere near as bad as her husband was. He was a charlatan. When they got married and just starting out he wasn't as immersed in his chicanery as his life choices took him. She stayed with him after they'd started a family. What options did she honestly have as a woman of little to no means during her lifetime? Her family might have taken her back in, but she was ostracised by them for marrying JS in the first place. She got in over her head IMO. And didn't know of a way out.

Richard Price wrote a long series of essays entitled, "Joseph Smith Fought Polygamy". It may just be a rehash of his work. You can Google it.

Thanks, will check it out. :)